Practices at NM land office concern state auditor

State law does not require contribution disclosures related to trust land transactions, and contributions are not prohibited during the negotiation process. The Legislature should consider requiring disclosures for the land commissioner, Balderas said.

Land office general counsel Bob Stranahan said a higher level of scrutiny regarding contributions would be fine with the agency.

"You would have to shut down business if you were to remove from consideration people who give money to political campaigns," he said, adding that contributions have nothing to do with the agency's decision-making process.

Balderas' office made several recommendations in its 70-page report based on 15 findings regarding land office procedures.

The report has been referred to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, the state attorney general's office and the U.S. attorney's office.